Letter

Saatja: "ILO-BIT-OIT" <[email protected]> Saaja: "ILO-BIT-OIT" <[email protected]> Teema: FW: Follow up on the information session on the Meeting of experts on ergonomic hazards and human factors Kuupäev: 2026-09-28 14:03 Tähelepanu! Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada. TO MEMBER STATES OF THE EASTERN EUROPEAN GROUP Dear Colleagues, Please find below the message sent to the Chairperson of the Government Group and to all Regional Coordinators. Best regards, Official Relations and Correspondence Unit (RELOFF) From: RELOFF, SECRETARIAT <[email protected]> Sent: lundi 28 septembre 2026 12:09 To: Subject: Follow up on the information session on the Meeting of experts on ergonomic hazards and human factors Dear Chairperson of the Government Group, Dear Regional Coordinators, Further to your participation in the information session by the Governance Department team on 22 September concerning the forthcoming Meeting of Experts on Ergonomics Hazards and Human Factors (Geneva,12-17 April 2027), please find attached the PowerPoint presentation used during the session. As agreed, the key points discussed are outlined below: The Government Group is invited to establish: * A main list of Member States whose governments will be invited to nominate experts; and * A reserve list of Member States to be used in the event that a government from the main list decline the invitation or fail to respond within the deadline set by the Office. In this context, the selection of countries is to be guided by the following criteria: * Regional representation; * A balanced number of experts from countries at different levels of income; and * Diversity of legal and administrative frameworks, including in terms of regulatory and policy approaches to HFE In accordance with the Standing Orders for Meetings of Experts (Article 4.3), and to support this process, the Office suggested the following lists for your consideration: Suggested Main List of Government Experts * Japan * Malaysia * Luxembourg * United Kingdom and Great Britain and Northern Ireland * South Africa * Tunisia * Argentina * Ecuador Suggested Reserve List of Government Experts * Australia * South Korea * France * Norway * Ghana * Senegal * Brazil * Peru Taking into account the time required for governments to nominate experts, as well as the necessary travel arrangements, we would kindly appreciate your cooperation in consolidating the list of countries no later than 19 October 2026. As provided under the Standing Orders, the Office will cover the costs of travel and subsistence for nominated experts. This provision does not extend to advisers accompanying experts. For any further information or clarification, please contact: Mr Joaquim Pintado Nunes ( <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]) and Ms Ana Catalina Ramirez ( <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected]). Best wishes, Official Relations and Correspondence Unit (RELOFF) Secretariat T: +41 22 799 6245 E: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Route des Morillons 4 CH-1211 Geneva 22 Switzerland <https://www.ilo.org/public/ilo/ilologo-signature-en-high.png> ----------------------------------------- This electronic message may contain confidential, proprietary or privileged information intended solely for the use of the named recipient. The ILO is not liable for any error or virus connected with this transmission. ----------------------------------------- Ce message électronique peut contenir des informations confidentielles, ou spécialement protégées, à la seule intention du destinataire. L'OIT ne peut être tenue responsable des erreurs ou des virus qui s'y trouveraient. ----------------------------------------- Este mensaje electrónico puede contener información confidencial o especialmente protegida para el uso exclusivo del destinatario indicado. La OIT no se responsabiliza en caso de error o virus. ----------------------------------------- Meeting of Experts on ergonomic hazards and human factors 12-16 April 2027 Briefing to the Government group September 22, 2026  2 Agenda ► Background of the meeting ► Purpose and arrangements of the meeting ► Overview of the background report ► List of governments invited to nominate experts: Proposed criteria. ► Questions and comments Advancing social justice, promoting decent work  3 Background of the meeting  Meeting decision ❑ At its 355th Session (November 2025) the Governing Body decided to convene a meeting of experts on ergonomics and human factors from 12 to 16 April 2027, prior to standard setting on the same subject matter. ❑ At its 356thSession (March-April 2026) Session, the Governing Body approved the arrangements for the Meeting of Experts on Ergonomics and Human Factors. At the time, it decided that the meeting of experts would aim to agree on technical conclusions clarifying the scope and key elements of ergonomics hazards within the framework of the ILO and in line with current scientific knowledge.  4 Purpose and arrangements of the meeting/1  Purpose Based on a background report prepared by the Office, the meeting of experts will agree on technical conclusions clarifying the scope and key elements of ergonomics hazards within the framework of the ILO and in line with current scientific knowledge. The conclusions will also identify areas where there is a technical consensus, as well as issues where views differ. The conclusions will inform and provide a sound technical foundation for future standard- setting discussions on ergonomics and human factors.  Officers of the meeting ▪ Chairperson: In line with article 6.2 of the Standing Orders for Meetings of Experts, the Chairperson shall be an independent person with expertise on the matters covered by the agenda selected by the Office. ▪ Three Vice-Chairpersons (one from each group)  5 Purpose and arrangements of the meeting/2  Composition  Experts ▪ 8 experts nominated after consultation with Governments ▪ Eight Employer experts ▪ Eight Worker experts Each expert may be accompanied by one advisor.  Observers ▪ International intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations authorized by the GB (GB.356/INS/20/3) ▪ Interested governments  6 Context information • Human Factors/ Ergonomics is concerned with the interactions between workers, tasks, equipment, technologies, work organization and the work environment. • Exposure to risks related to HFE accounts for 12.27 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), primarily through their contribution to low back pain. • There is currently no international labour standard that comprehensively addresses ergonomic hazards and human factors. • Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) and the Maximum Weight Recommendation No. 128 are limited in scope.  7 Brief overview of the background report for the meeting • The report: • Introduces key HFE concepts. • Addresses the different dimensions of HFE: Physical, Cognitive and Organizational. • PHYSICAL: Relationship between work demands and the anatomical, physiological and biomechanical characteristics of workers • COGNITIVE: Mental processes involved in work, including perception, attention, memory, information processing, decision-making and human interaction with technology. • ORGANIZATIONAL: Design, organization, management and coordination of work systems within organizations.  8 Brief overview of the background report for the meeting • The report: • Identifies potential health outcomes - such as musculoskeletal disorders, cardiometabolic disorders, mental health problems, and injuries – and performance outcomes. • Identifies preventive and control measures to address HFE hazards and risks • Addresses questions related to workforce diversity taking into account that a systems- based HFE approach aims to adapt work to workers' characteristics, capabilities and limitations. • Gives a brief overview of regulatory frameworks addressing HFE.  9 Proposed criteria regarding the governments to be asked to nominate an expert  List of States whose governments are to be invited to nominate experts and those which are to be included in a reserve list.  Criteria: Regional representation Balanced number of experts from countries of different levels of income  Diversity of legal and administrative frameworks, including in terms of regulatory and policy approaches to HFE  10 Questions and comments